Crawford Alumni Center

When there has been a disruption in your life, like the loss of a job, (which many people are going through right now), the question of relocation always seems to come to the forefront. Should I stay and tough it out where I’m at, or should I go where opportunities seem to be brighter? The answer of course is person- and family-specific. Younger people with less ties to an area are in a better position to pack up and move to where things are moving faster. People in marriages where spouses are working or who have children and mortgages are often not in position to relocate.

Whether you live in the Huntsville area or are considering relocating, we have a unique opportunity brought to you by the Huntsville, Alabama Chamber of Commerce and Tennessee Tech Center for Career Development. Huntsville’s A Smart Place Recruiting Event will take place virtually on July 9, 2020, from 10 - 11 am CDT on Zoom. Interested Tech Alumni will listen to approximately 20 Huntsville-based employers talk about their companies and opportunities for about 3-5 minutes each. All people who log on will receive a recording of the broadcast with full contact information on each of the recruiters and companies. While no actual interviews will take place, it gives viewers a unique opportunity to listen and apply for jobs they are interested in. Alumni who have a Handshake account can register for the event through Handshake.

Registration is mandatory, and follow-up contact information will be made available the day of the event. This webinar is a great way to learn about opportunities in Huntsville. This event is highly recommended for technical graduates; engineering graduates; those focusing on data analytics; and supply chain, cybersecurity, finance and other operations-related positions. The final list of employers will be available on July 7, 2020.

More than 26.5 million unemployment claims have been filed in the last five weeks. So, if you are one of the folks still drawing a check, you truly are one of the lucky ones. For those furloughed or laid off, employment may not be the same for you going forward, even though the current situation is temporary. Most signs indicate that the economy is getting ready to return, but to a “new normal” that may not look exactly like the old economy. But it could be just as good for employment. The advice for job hunters is to get prepared now for when the economic switch turns back on. Obviously, update your resume and employment goals, and get active on job search sites like Indeed, Zip Recruiter, Career Builder and Handshake (ask for an account at career.tntech.edu). Be sure to fill out profile sections on these sites completely and thoroughly. Don’t just use these sites to peruse jobs; let the sites do the work for you, as many use machine-learning to identify places where your resume matches with job listings and/or companies. Also, be sure to build out a LinkedIn profile and get active on that site. LinkedIn reportedly was responsible for 180,000 hires over the past six weeks, and that’s during the height of a pandemic!

From time to time, Tennessee Tech will partner with third party agencies for the purpose of participating in regional or targeted job fairs that provide our students or alumni with additional access to employment opportunities.  This does not, however, imply that these events are right for all alumni or students.  Each job fair will have an identity of its own that usually mirrors the workforce needs of the area that the event is being held in. 

The advice to Tech alumni considering events like these is to research the companies ahead of time to thoroughly understand the opportunities that are available before you go.  Take plenty of resumes and dress in professional business attire.  Your goal for the day is not to secure a job but to secure an interview for the near future.  Expect numerous relatively quick conversations for the sake of determining if there is a need to talk further.  Generally, employers that attend these events have current openings they are seeking to fill relatively quickly.   

NOTE:  The HireTennessee events in Nashville and Memphis, originally scheduled for this spring, have been postponed.  

Let’s face it, many of us are in the passive job search mode.   We aren’t actively seeking employment, we like (or maybe not) where we work, and for the most part we are content.  Plus we really don’t have the time it takes for a full-blown job search.  Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to kind of “be out there,” but only if the right opportunities presented themselves?  We have often read that the best jobs come to those who are perfectly content in their current positions.  What is being described here is the concept of Social Media Marketing, and the best of the social marketing sights for passive (or active) jobs seekers is LinkedIn (LI).   

I like LinkedIn for a myriad of reasons, but here are few ways I think LI stands out from others:

1.     It’s a professional social media network rather than an entertainment platform.

2.     Seasoned professionals and students alike use the platform for networking and professional development.

3.     Recruiters can find you on the site, read about your career, and contact you.  

While these are great reasons to utilize LinkedIn, I think the best reason is that it allows maximum flexibility for the end user.  You can use it to network and grow business contacts, prospect for new job opportunities, share and/or write articles, and use it as a reference to gather advice, research, or upcoming trends.  You can also elect to be very active or very passive with your approach to using LI to find that next job.   

For those alumni that aren’t on LinkedIn, my advice would be to start the New Year off with building out your profile and start connecting with professionals in your field.   For those with existing profiles, commit to refreshing your content with a new profile picture and updated contact information and bio page.  For those needing some assistance, I find YouTube to be full of excellent videos with tips on creating effective LinkedIn profiles, whether you are just starting out or a seasoned professional.

Give it a try!

Like getting in better shape, the end of one year and the start of the next can often motivate people to want to improve on their current career status.  In fact, New Year’s resolutions will often focus on a close examination of your career and whether it’s heading towards a rainbow or a cliff!  But the urge to change jobs and/or careers is often easier said than done.  Many times the misery you know is better than the misery you don’t know!   The right advice may be for you to focus on you instead of your job or your career.  That’s right—maybe the New Year’s resolution should be focused on improving you rather than just changing jobs or careers.   Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

1)     Commit to learning a new skill.  You know better than anyone there is a skill out there that you want to obtain that you feel has always kept you back.  Put it in your goals for 2020 and go out and develop it.  Some suggestions might include social media participation and awareness, public speaking, sales/persuasive skills, digital media or maybe learning relational databases. 

2)     Read a career-related book or follow a career blog.  I really like this idea because as we all know “life” gets in the way of fulfilling our New Year’s resolutions faster than holiday bills hit the mailbox.  A good book or following a blog can help keep you motivated through the tough winter months. 

3)     Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.  Sometimes redesigning and updating your resume and/or profile on a site like LinkedIn re-energizes tired thoughts about your job and or career.   Reviewing all of the things you accomplished over the past year and creatively adding them to your resume or profile may prove to be the magic elixir and lead to a new sense of energy for 2020.

4)     Re-assess your look and wardrobe for the upcoming year.  In terms of re-energizing a stagnate outlook on your career, consider updating your wardrobe and consider a makeover or a new hairstyle.  There is no question that looking and feeling good about yourself leads to a more positive view on work and life.  Your interactions with others will be more positive and the setbacks less annoying.  Others will sense the change and like the updated you!

Acquire a new professional certification.  Similar to #1, there is probably a skill-based certification that you’ve always coveted.  Or maybe you’ve just let a certification lapse.  In either case, gaining a certification can reconnect you to why you chose your career in the first place.  It will remind you of your passion and commitment to a profession, and you may just learn a new thing or two in the process.

That’s a question universities often ask their graduates!  Yes, it’s true.  Universities often don’t know the outcomes of their graduates, and the need to know has never been greater. 

Since the recession of 2008, and with college degrees becoming more and more expensive to earn, universities have been under pressure to show the impact their graduates are having across the U.S. and internationally.  Data concerning where alumni are, what they are doing, and what kind of career successes they are experiencing is often unknown.  The reasons for wanting to know your post-graduation successes may not be 100% apparent to you, but along with helping universities with accreditation, ranking, and improving programs comes more personal benefits such as providing a potential network and/or contacts for current students.  Your data allows offices like Career Development to help current students see occupational paths more clearly and become more knowledgeable about their field of study.  In addition, any salary data helps Career Development provide solid advice to students contemplating different career paths.  Many times universities can only show salary data for entry-level career start positions.  Finally, when a university knows it has numerous alumni employed with specific employers, it assists with building deeper and richer partnerships with that employer.  This often leads to opportunities for research, jobs, internships, scholarships and philanthropy.  Many universities have even begun showcasing graduates in admissions brochures, websites, and radio and TV commercials.  

So, consider sharing your employment status with Tech. We would love to be the first to congratulate you on your success!

Campus job fairs are often maligned by students for being intimidating, loud, crowded, or inconvenient for their class schedule. However, they can soon find out that jobs fairs can be life-changing events. On Sept. 24, 2019, Tennessee Tech welcomed 154 organizations for the purpose of recruiting talent from Tech to join their workforces. Many of the tables were staffed by Tech alumni, and the Hooper Eblen Center was aglow in Purple and Gold. Throughout the year, there are many ways that Tech shows off the quality of its academic programs, community impact, and athletic prowess. But you’d be hard-pressed to find more compelling visual confirmation of Tech’s impact than at the STEM/Engineering and Computer Science Fair. The employer turnout of 154 companies was highest single-day job fair attendance in Tech’s history. As I viewed the fair from the arena seats, I couldn’t help but wonder how many lives would be impacted today as students moved from table to table. One conversation with one employer at the right time can truly be a game-changer in a young person’s life. In addition, more than 40 of the companies stuck around for “day after” recruiting. These day-after interviews often lead to site visits where offers for full-time career opportunities happen. Just imagine, in the span of 48 hours, students’ lives can be turned upside down by realizing they are about ready to make one of life’s biggest transitions: college student to career professional!

The beginning of recruiting season reminds me that alumni often have too narrow a perspective on how they can give back to their alma maters.  Most assume that the university is only interested in cash donations.  One often overlooked way to assist your alma mater is through your place of employment.  Tell your senior leadership that Tech is a great place to source talent (like you).  This is greatly appreciated by the university and its current students.  Helping us create more experiential learning opportunities such as cooperative education or internship positions is beneficial and has positive impact on the employer, student, and university.  Plus, experiential programs are an excellent way for organizations to prepare for future positions vacated through retirement, attrition or something else.  Co-ops and Internship programs are not difficult to start; in fact, the Center for Career Development can assist you with benchmarking data, developing best practice program plans, and providing a vehicle to advertise job postings and source Tech talent.  

In addition to experiential jobs, Tech also provides entry-level talent to corporate, government and non-profit employers annually.  If you have full-time positions available, consider placing an ad with Tennessee Tech.  It’s free and easy to do, and you can start by creating a Handshake account here or by calling the Center for Career Development (931) 372-3163 to discuss talent acquisition strategies.

Ever had that gnawing, sweat-inducing, gut feeling that a change in career or jobs might be necessary in the near future?  It can happen.  Even though the economy is in great shape, you still may face mergers, corporate relocation, the threat of artificial intelligence, and/or just plain old burnout.  As upsetting as it can seem, re-inventing yourself in a new job or career field can be a rewarding and lucrative proposition if done with introspection, hard work, research, and a career coach you believe in.  Here are some simple ways to get started, should you fall into any of the above categories.  

First, take stock of where you are financially, as the old adage of “it’s easier to find a job when you have a job” is really still true.  Set a realistic timeframe for making things happen that works with your own financial situation.  Once committed to changing positions/careers, reach out to a seasoned jobs professional to conduct informational interviews and discuss occupations, fields, and potential employers to pursue.  You want to make sure that you are a credible candidate for what you are considering before going further.  If you sense a green light, probe your network (including Tech alumni!) for contacts with companies or industries that may be viable as a result of your research.  Ask for a meeting or at least a conversation (phone, email) with them to find out more information.     

Next, work with your career coach to get your resume and career story together.  Re-inventing yourself on paper can take the assistance of someone skilled in translating the work you’ve done into the language of the work you want to do.  The more you can make it seem like the change you are seeking is simply the next step in a well-thought-out career plan, the better.  Career coaches and expert resume writers are adept at using the vocabulary and phrasing that will make you more desirable in your new target area of interest.  Next, practice your career story and repeat it over and over until it becomes second nature.  This will particularly come in handy at “chance meetings” when opportunities present themselves without warning.  

Finally keep your attitude positive.  You’ll never convince others of your desire to make a change if you’re not 100% committed yourself.  Remember to stay focused on what you want in a new job, not what you didn’t like about the old one.  People in positions to help you will be much more inclined to do so when they see you are motivated to make something happen.   Finally, it’s unusual to go through a career without having to make considerable changes.  When it happens, embrace it, learn from it, and make something happen!

My career-trajectory is not what I had in mind. Do I need to go back to school?

Mid-careerists often struggle with this dilemma.   When a career stalls or when burnout seems more real than not, people often have thoughts of returning to school for a master’s degree or maybe a different undergraduate degree.   There are several questions you need to ask when these uneasy feelings about “career” consume you.   Sometimes a simple micro-credential or certification might jumpstart or ignite your career in a slightly different but better way.  But when you are seriously thinking about a career redirection and before filling out that graduate school application, ask yourself a few questions.

First, is it my actual career, or is it the employer that is causing me to reconsider what I am doing? 

Many times I find it’s the workplace and the co-workers, not the actual work that is causing stress and anxiety.  In this case, finding a more suitable “fit” for you and your career is often the most suitable answer.  

Second, have I maxed out my career path within my company? 

If you are seeking growth and the door seems shut, testing the waters for a new opportunity is often an easier and more beneficial path to get your confidence and career momentum back.  In both cases, a new workplace can do wonders for rejuvenating a tired career.    

In considering graduate school, you should know exactly what you want the outcomes to be before entering.  In fact, the best arrangement is an agreement with your current employer that once a master’s degree is obtained, a promotion will ensue.  (Sometimes they’ll even pay.)  Too many times I witness people entering graduate school assuming the advanced credential, once complete, will automatically provide them with a promotion, only to find they are simply considered more educated but not necessarily promotable.  This can be devastating.   

So, the smart advice is to discuss options with a career coach—someone not too closely or emotionally tied to your decision.   The right coach will help you examine the right program and direction, how it might affect your daily routine and lifestyle, associated costs and what you can expect from a return on investment.   Always preparing yourself for the next step in your career is key, and if that entails a master’s degree, then graduate school just might be the right answer. 

Regardless of where you are in your career if you decide to make a move you will likely face a Skype type interview.   One online source estimated that companies looking for entry-mid and executive level candidates jumped from 10 to 42 percent between 2010 and 2017.   So, how do you prepare for this type of interview.   We thought we would offer our five top tips to successfully navigating your upcoming Skype interview.

 

1) Plan - prepare well ahead of time – many candidates fail to properly prepare.  Successful candidates do the following

     a. Download and test Skype (or other) well before your scheduled interview

     b. Test your microphone

     c. Check lighting in the room

     d. Prepare the room

Can’t stress this last point enough.  Candidates should understand exactly what will be in the frame behind them.  The backdrop should be clean, appealing and interesting if possible. 

 

2) Rehearse – be sure to look into the monitor not the screen.  If possible do a “mock” interview with a friend as successfully navigating this type of interview takes practice.  Rehearse questions that you can reasonably predict will be asked.

 

3) Prepare for the exact interview time -  make sure there will be no distractions.  Turn off your cell phone and land line, put pets out of the room you’ll be in,  don’t have anything running that has a buzzer or timer that could go off . . . and certainly no TV running. 

 

4) Dress Professionally – another common mistake is when candidates don’t honor the interview by dressing too casually.  The message sent is that you are “fitting this interview in” to your normal day.   Not what we would advise you to do.  Treat the Skype interview as you would any other interview and dress professionally.  

 

5) Stress body language – be aware of your non-verbal communication as you interview.  Sit up straight, stay focused on the camera, shoulders forward and use nodding and facial gestures to show that you are fully engaged.  

 

Bottom line is video interviewing has become common place so embrace it, learn it and master it to become the most successful candidate you can be.  

I am often approached by alumni who, for a number of reasons, are interested in looking for a new position or a change in careers. Many times they are not being offered the positions they are interviewing for and immediately assume they are doing something wrong. Candidates for positions may be perfectly qualified, interview well, be dressed immaculately and still not receive an offer.  “I just don’t understand what I am doing wrong,” is often the lament. 

The simple answer is you may be doing nothing wrong, but the unfortunate reality of the job seeker is that you have no idea who your competition is or truly what the employer desires from the hire. We often hear employers who use the word “fit” to describe a candidate and their organizations. Here’s an example:  An employer interviews three outstanding candidates for a job and after review, all three were considered equally impressive for the position. Employers, all things being equal, will typically choose the person who “fits” best with what they are needing at that exact moment in time. You may have done everything right but not gotten the job.  

So, in many instances there is no need to change what you are doing, just do more of it. Remember, hiring is often a numbers game, so increase your chances of success by applying for more positions. Final advice: Don’t sweat what you can’t control and focus more on things you can, like attitude, enthusiasm, what you know about the company and your likability quotient.